Rebels will look to Vaughan to guide them against Wyoming

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Oct. 20, 2000 | 10:09 a.m.

Backup quarterback Jason Vaughan will start UNLV's Homecoming game as expected Saturday afternoon against Wyoming at Sam Boyd Stadium. But Rebels head coach John Robinson said he also plans to play Jason Thomas at least a quarter against the Cowboys.

Thomas, who left UNLV's 20-19 loss at Colorado State last Saturday late in the first half with a sprained right foot, practiced for the first time this week on Thursday afternoon.

"It looks as though Jason Thomas is going to be fine," Robinson said. "Jason Vaughan will start. My thought is to have J.T. ready to come in for the second quarter and let him play the second quarter. Then at halftime we'll see where we are.

"That's my feeling now. J.T. is still day-to-day. He might come out (today) swollen, but right now he looks good."

Thomas, the nation's top-rated quarterback in passing efficiency, agreed with Robinson's decision to start Vaughan.

"I don't deserve to start," Thomas said. "I haven't practiced with the team all week. I'm sure I'll be playing, though."

Robinson said Thomas' biggest challenge is overcoming the pain in the foot that is still bothering him.

"His (foot) is going to hurt him for the next couple of weeks, but if his brain doesn't care about (the pain) anymore, he'll be okay," Robinson said.

"It's more the pushing off laterally when it hurts," Thomas said. "But I can run forward. I can't go at full speed yet, but enough to get by."

The starting news came as no surprise to Vaughan, who quarterbacked UNLV to a 35-32 upset over 24-point favorite Wyoming last year in Laramie.

"I expected to start," he said. "I'm definitely capable of leading this team and doing what we need to do both on the field and off the field. I'm excited about the opportunity."

Tampa Bay wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who has the weekend off because of the Bucs' Thursday night game against Detroit, is flying to Las Vegas today and is expected to attend Saturday's game.

Johnson starred for Robinson at USC and led the Trojans to a Rose Bowl victory over Northwestern. During Robinson's golf tournament in May, he promised to attend a Rebel game when he had a weekend off.